Alumni Speaking Up for Rutgers.

Mission Statement

To be a bipartisan advocate for our alma mater, Rutgers University, in its relationship with the New Jersey Legislature and Governor.

Scarlet PAC

Scarlet PAC was established in late 2015 to be a bi-partisan advocate for Rutgers University. In essence, the mission of Scarlet PAC is to help assure that our alma mater's priorities are front-and-center in the minds of New Jersey’s leaders.

This past year, Scarlet PAC has focused on creating the foundation for a sustainable, effective organization which can support Rutgers University over the long term. The approach has been a deliberate, one-step-at-a-time effort to achieve this objective. The Scarlet PAC will begin disbursing funds in the 2017 election cycle when the Governor and all state legislative seats are up for grabs.

Why we need your help

The state of NJ provides only about 20 percent of Rutgers operating budget. For nearly 20 years, funding for higher education has been flat or declining. In real dollars, higher education and Rutgers are being starved by state policymakers.

While Rutgers funding has been flat or declining, enrollment has grown by almost 15,000 students. The universiy is meeting its mission; the state is failing in its responsibility to help.

Budgetary pressures have never been more severe. The next Governor and members of the Legislature will be forced to balance extraordinary demands to fund the state pension system, pay for new K-12 education programs and a host of competing priorities. Discretionary spend for things like higher education will be in the crosshairs.

Because Rutgers is a state university, the administration is limited in its lobbying efforts. This puts Rutgers at a disadvantage with other constituencies who are competing with us for a share of the state budget.

New Jersey now has more than 250,000 Rutgers alumni, 68,000 undergraduate and graduate students, 24,000 faculty and staff, and 50,000 continuing education students. This constituency will play a key role in the future of New Jersey and the Scarlet PAC is dedicated to immediately making these voices heard.

Rutgers has excellent momentum and the time is now to amplify our voices to be heard.